Is emotion an obstacle to steadfastness? And how do we guide the emotional person?
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The questioner : Your Eminence, is emotion an obstacle to steadfastness? And how do we guide the emotional person to benefit from his strong emotion in what is beneficial for him?
The Shaykh : Yes, emotion is necessary; every matter requires emotion. If emotion were to die, the human being would cease to be. Emotion drives the human being to progress, so it is essential. However, it needs control and a balance; it needs control and a balance. For example, if a person is not satisfied with society, or not satisfied with the rulers, and he has strong emotional reactions, we tell him: be patient.
You have this jealousy, this emotion, is it out of a love for revenge, or out of a love for establishing the Shari'ah? If it is out of a love for revenge, it is ruinous. If it is out of a love for establishing the Shari'ah, we say: come, look at what is authentically narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Sahih al-Bukhari 3651 Look at how these three preferred generations dealt with the rulers. Although there were among the rulers of that time, after the Rightly Guided Caliphs, those whose actions were blameworthy, they nonetheless dealt with the governors in a manner that required obedience and compliance, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded. The Messenger even informed us that regarding the governors, or the caliphs and commanders, who delay the prayer from its time, we do what Allah has made obligatory upon us, and we pray the prayer at its time, and we leave them. But if the prayer catches up with us while we are with them, we pray with them. As for us, we pray at the time, and if they delay and the prayer catches up with us while we are with them, we pray with them, and it becomes a voluntary prayer for us.
So we explain to him, we explain the treatment of Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) of al-Ma'mun, and of others other than al-Ma'mun who afflicted him and harmed him.
We look at the Shaykh al-Islam, whom the rulers afflicted, and look at his writings to them, and his gentleness with them, and explain to him that this is the way of the Salaf.
And here, in my opinion, if his emotion is for Allah (Mighty and Majestic), what will happen? It will calm down. But if it is out of a love for revenge, then it is ruinous without a doubt. Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, emotion is necessary; every matter requires emotion. If emotion were to die, the human being would cease to be. Emotion drives the human being to progress, so it is essential. However, it needs control and a balance; it needs control and a balance. For example, if a person is not satisfied with society, or not satisfied with the rulers, and he has strong emotional reactions, we tell him: be patient.
You have this jealousy, this emotion, is it out of a love for revenge, or out of a love for establishing the Shari'ah? If it is out of a love for revenge, it is ruinous. If it is out of a love for establishing the Shari'ah, we say: come, look at what is authentically narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
The best people are those living in my generation, and then those who will follow them, and then those who will follow the latter
خير الناس قرني، ثم الذين يلونهم، ثم الذين يلونهمSo we explain to him, we explain the treatment of Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) of al-Ma'mun, and of others other than al-Ma'mun who afflicted him and harmed him.
We look at the Shaykh al-Islam, whom the rulers afflicted, and look at his writings to them, and his gentleness with them, and explain to him that this is the way of the Salaf.
And here, in my opinion, if his emotion is for Allah (Mighty and Majestic), what will happen? It will calm down. But if it is out of a love for revenge, then it is ruinous without a doubt. Yes.